Who To Follow At Cheltenham On Friday - 10/12/21

Cheltenham 14:25

Enrilo

Harry Cobden

Paul Nicholls

Age: 7

Weight: 11-0

OR: 147

Days: 13

The feature race of the afternoon at Prestbury Park on Friday is the Grade Three Handicap Chase over 3m2f and it sees many familiar fences.

We are siding with the Paul Nicholls trained Enrilo who was set to run a big race in the Ladbroke Trophy a few weeks back before taking a tumble.

Having been a fair hurdler, the seven year was sent chasing and on his second start got off the mark in a nice race at Exeter.

Shipped into Grade One company at Kempton he was pulled up with nothing going right, but after a few months off he returned in rude health to win at Newbury.

His big season target was the Grade Three bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and in a dramatic race he finished first past the post but in the end was demoted to third.

Staying in his main attribute, which made the Ladbrokes Trophy such an appealing target off a mark of 147 and with Nicholls saying he was spot on for that he may have gone close if not for falling.

If able to get round on Friday he poses a huge threat.

Form: 1P13FView

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
11/03/24	TAU	28.5	Sft	11-8	3
03/02/24	MUS	31.5	GS	11-5	2
29/10/23	WCN	26.5	Sft	11-6	4
29/04/23	SAN	28.5	GS	10-5	F
25/02/23	KEM	24	Gd	10-4	6

Paul Nicholls has a few lovely chances on Friday to keep his healthy strike rate going and overall he does not do badly at Cheltenham.

His best chance of a winner throughout the day comes in the feature Grade Three event with his Ladbrokes Trophy faller Enrilo looking to bounce back to form.

Another nice type that makes his second start over fences is Barbados Bucks for The Stewart Family who does need to improve for his chase debut, but did enough as a hurdler to suggest he will.

Nicholls heads into the meeting sporting a 28% strike rate for the last two weeks, having managed to land 14 winners from 50 runners.

This seasons first choice rider for the Tizzard's, Brendan Powell has some lovely rides on Friday at Cheltenham that makes him one to keep on side.

In the first race of the day, only six runners go to post but it looks to be a cracking event with Powell's ride Jpr One having a superb chance to make it back to back wins.

Another big runner for the rider comes in the Mares Handicap Chase with the expensive Rose Of Arcadia making her chase debut in a decent event.

Powell heads into the meeting with four winners over the last two weeks and he has some lovely chances to add to that tally.